Sauk Rapids woman accused of $44,000 in welfare fraud 3 years after similar conviction

SAUK RAPIDS — A 36-year-old Sauk Rapids woman faces three felony counts of wrongfully obtaining assistance worth about $44,000 while also employed for over a year.

According to a Benton County criminal complaint, Sara Ann Brixx received welfare assistance from June 1, 2015 to Dec. 1, 2016. She received cash, food support, a housing grant and Uncle Harry Food Support.

Brixx was convicted in June 2015 for wrongfully obtaining public assistance through Benton County.

The new complaint states the county's human services department "obtained information that the defendant was working while receiving the aforementioned public assistance."

UHFS is a program through the Minnesota Department of Human Services encompassing multiple food support programs. This includes Minnesota Family Investment Program and the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

The complaint states Brixx worked at multiple unreported jobs, including at least three nail salons.

Authorities also found Brixx was putting money onto a prepaid credit card run through private online banking. This account totaled $94,374.

Portions of this income came from Social Security, a tax refund and a housing grant from the county. Total unreported income was $44,607.94. The total amount in services provided to Brixx by the county was $44,435.

The complaint said if officials had known of the unreported income, Brixx would not have been eligible for benefits.

The complaint said she was given two self-employment forms in July and September of 2016, but never returned them nor notified the county of her employment.

Brixx was convicted in June 2015 for wrongfully obtaining public assistance through Benton County.